Transplants vs DC Natives

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

You're not.

You have to have gone to (at the very least) high school here in order to even approach being grandfathered in. Sorry.

Transplants generally try to use a 10-year stay as a replacement for actually being from here. Even your great length doesn't meet the mark. If you say you're from here, the first question a real Washingtonian will ask is "Where'd you go to high school?" It tells us who you are/were.

I went to Jefferson, then Banneker. Means I'm a nerd. It's our shorthand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really stupid thread. So far all we've learned is that rich, spoiled, sheltered kids in Upper NW and Montgomery County who grew up and went to school together tend to stick together. How does that differentiate them from rich, spoiled, sheltered kids in any other suburb anywhere else?

No shit. This is the Whitest thread ever, and the fact that it's about DC "natives" makes that fact all the more ironic.

I hear you. That "call a spade a spade" comment surely got my attention! Whoa, I mean, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think transplants seem more infatuated with the area in general. They seem to view the city through perpetual rose colored glasses.

On the other hand, natives don't seem all that impressed. They don't seem to have the same thrill or appreciation that the transplants do, when seeing monuments or Dupont Circle other "DC" things

I find natives easily impressed and a little pompous, considering that they grew up in a far more modest area than what the transplants transformed D.C. into. Natives can pretend not to understand, but it becomes predictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

You're not.

You have to have gone to (at the very least) high school here in order to even approach being grandfathered in. Sorry.

Transplants generally try to use a 10-year stay as a replacement for actually being from here. Even your great length doesn't meet the mark. If you say you're from here, the first question a real Washingtonian will ask is "Where'd you go to high school?" It tells us who you are/were.

I went to Jefferson, then Banneker. Means I'm a nerd. It's our shorthand.

Yeesh, excuse me. You make it sound like a test, a test I don't want to pass. I'll wear my long 21 years here proudly. And also proudly say I'm originally from New York state. And I don't need your fake apology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

You're not.

You have to have gone to (at the very least) high school here in order to even approach being grandfathered in. Sorry.

Transplants generally try to use a 10-year stay as a replacement for actually being from here. Even your great length doesn't meet the mark. If you say you're from here, the first question a real Washingtonian will ask is "Where'd you go to high school?" It tells us who you are/were.

I went to Jefferson, then Banneker. Means I'm a nerd. It's our shorthand.

No thanks. My high school is head and shoulders above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

You're not.

You have to have gone to (at the very least) high school here in order to even approach being grandfathered in. Sorry.

Transplants generally try to use a 10-year stay as a replacement for actually being from here. Even your great length doesn't meet the mark. If you say you're from here, the first question a real Washingtonian will ask is "Where'd you go to high school?" It tells us who you are/were.

I went to Jefferson, then Banneker. Means I'm a nerd. It's our shorthand.

Yeesh, excuse me. You make it sound like a test, a test I don't want to pass. I'll wear my long 21 years here proudly. And also proudly say I'm originally from New York state. And I don't need your fake apology.

Agreed. This area does not impress me. Case in point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

Yes, you are a transplant. If you can't answer "where did you go to school?", then you are a transplant.

Transplant here, currently engaged to a Native.
I strongly agree, that school identity is a key distinguishing feature among my Native friends. Typical conversation: "Oh, do you know Tim?" "No - which high school did he go to?" "Oh, he went WJ, he ran around with James and the lacrosse guys." "Oh wow, small world!"
Even if you've lived here for 25 years as an adult, you're still a Transplant.


The Natives really stick together. They all grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, do favors for each other in business and real estate, socialize together (same country clubs, swim clubs, BBQs, etc.) and are raising kids together.

The only way to truly break in to their inner circle is to marry into it. The Natives I met through my fiancee are very lovely, kind, and genuine people. Many of them come from Old Money. Lots of business owners among the Natives. Lots of connections into the highest reaches of Federal government (usually through parents and close family friends).

I think you might be talking about suburbanites? Isn't "WJ" a high school in Bethesda? That is in no way analogous to growing up in the Marion Barry D.C.of the 70s-early 90s

NP. Kids in the close in suburbs, particularly the wealthy ones, socialized with the DC private school kids all the time. It's more analogous to a kid from St Albans hanging out with a girl from Stone Ridge- they may not be both in "DC proper" but they often run in similar circles and have similar socio economic backgrounds. I think that's what she was referencing.

Yes, this. Lots of bleed-over between Upper NW, Bethesda/CC, and Potomac kids. Lots of them continue to run in the same social circles and live in the same general area. They all spend lots of time running around DC and catching shows downtown in their youth.

LOLZ. Y'all hilarious. Keep talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I a transplant? I've lived here since 1994. I'm 45. I sure feel like a native at this point.

Yes, you are a transplant. If you can't answer "where did you go to school?", then you are a transplant.

Transplant here, currently engaged to a Native.
I strongly agree, that school identity is a key distinguishing feature among my Native friends. Typical conversation: "Oh, do you know Tim?" "No - which high school did he go to?" "Oh, he went WJ, he ran around with James and the lacrosse guys." "Oh wow, small world!"
Even if you've lived here for 25 years as an adult, you're still a Transplant.


The Natives really stick together. They all grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, do favors for each other in business and real estate, socialize together (same country clubs, swim clubs, BBQs, etc.) and are raising kids together.

The only way to truly break in to their inner circle is to marry into it. The Natives I met through my fiancee are very lovely, kind, and genuine people. Many of them come from Old Money. Lots of business owners among the Natives. Lots of connections into the highest reaches of Federal government (usually through parents and close family friends).

You do realize that the overwhelming majority of DC "Natives" have never stepped foot in a country club, were never on a swim team, and had nothing to do with lacrosse, right? BBQing? Now that might be another matter.

You need to get out more, and discover the real DC.

+100000

No lie. Who are these lame hangers on wanna be losers? Is that what you strive for? Wow.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

BWaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa!

Yeah, so very grateful. Go back to whatever flyover state you are from. Making a place more expensive does not equate making it better. You don't seriously believe that, do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

BWaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa!

Yeah, so very grateful. Go back to whatever flyover state you are from. Making a place more expensive does not equate making it better. You don't seriously believe that, do you?

Boy, you ARE pissed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

BWaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa!

Yeah, so very grateful. Go back to whatever flyover state you are from. Making a place more expensive does not equate making it better. You don't seriously believe that, do you?

lol Anywhere outside of DC is "flyover" now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

BWaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa!

Yeah, so very grateful. Go back to whatever flyover state you are from. Making a place more expensive does not equate making it better. You don't seriously believe that, do you?

lol Anywhere outside of DC is "flyover" now?

+10000

Exactly. Case in point. If one thinks so highly of "this area" - at least be grateful to those who made it so. Loser (other PP).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with locals, except that they make assumptions they would not admit to, such as: if one is not from the D.C. area, one must be from podunk. Hardly the case, IRL. In fact, most of the transplants I know are making this area a much, much (much!) better place.

Frankly, I would be grateful, as a local - that transplants have increased my property values and escalated this swamp area of government workers into someplace worthwhile.

BWaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa!

Yeah, so very grateful. Go back to whatever flyover state you are from. Making a place more expensive does not equate making it better. You don't seriously believe that, do you?

lol Anywhere outside of DC is "flyover" now?

+10000

Exactly. Case in point. If one thinks so highly of "this area" - at least be grateful to those who made it so. Loser (other PP).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a really stupid thread. So far all we've learned is that rich, spoiled, sheltered kids in Upper NW and Montgomery County who grew up and went to school together tend to stick together. How does that differentiate them from rich, spoiled, sheltered kids in any other suburb anywhere else?

This is 100% true in this town.

- A native

Unlike other cities such as Boston and Baltimore, DC natives don't form closed off social circles. Social mobility is purely based on money (or political power since it's usually monetized later)
That's not necessarily a virtuous thing: it's just more of a user culture. If you can help me, you're in.

Native here (Capitol Hill, age 29). This is my impression of transplants in general: they're here to advance their career and make connections, not to form community nor improve the city at large. Very exploitative.